Leading from within

With David Williams

David, a former Vice President at AT&T, shared his journey from humble beginnings in Dallas to leading a billion-dollar program. Raised by a hardworking single mother, David's early experiences instilled a strong work ethic. He joined AT&T without aspirations for the corporate ladder but eventually transitioned to management due to a lack of seniority for technician roles. David emphasized the importance of mentorship, resilience, and positive leadership. He highlighted his innovative strategies during the pandemic, such as banning emails and encouraging team collaboration. Post-AT&T, David continues to mentor youth in STEM and runs a podcast facility leveraging AI.

Suhas Joshi, a former engineer and engineering manager at companies like Stripe, Facebook, and Microsoft, shared his career journey and transition from tech to financial advising. He discussed his initial success at Microsoft, his move to Facebook, and the cultural changes and challenges at Stripe, particularly during the pandemic. Suhas emphasized the importance of work-life balance, financial independence, and the need for tech professionals to consider career breaks and job changes to avoid burnout. He highlighted the common financial pitfalls in tech, such as concentration risk and misperception of financial needs, and advised early-career professionals to focus on growth and long-term career sustainability.

A woman at the table, with ‘Jane’

‘Jane’, a former Meta employee, shares her experience of gender discrimination, fear-based management techniques, and the legal battle that ensued. She is pushing for meaningful change in the tech industry, and hoping to help others who face similar issues, as a cautionary tale and advocate.

How big tech handles grief

With Shimi Rahim

Shimi, a technical writer with 25 years in tech, shared her experiences navigating bereavement leave at Google. She highlighted the company's evolving bereavement policies, from unclear guidelines to a clear one-month leave. Shimi discussed the impact of losing her father and husband during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and understanding one's rights. She also contrasted Google's past humane layoffs with the impersonal 2023 layoffs, which led to her departure in 2024. Shimi advised new tech entrants to know their rights, communicate effectively, and maintain a work-life balance.

Episode 1: We learned at “the crying lunch” what’s Not Working in Tech

With Ashley Finlayson

Jessica Lattif hosts the "Not Working in Tech" podcast, sharing stories of the tech industry's challenges. Jess, a former tech professional, discusses her journey from New Jersey to Oakland, her career at Facebook, Salesforce, and Stripe, and her transition from sustainable seafood to technology. She interviews Ashley Finlayson, a friend and coworker formerly at Uber and Meta, highlighting the intense workload, chronic illness, and the emotional toll of tech jobs.

They reflect on the industry's glorification of overwork and the need for support systems. Jessica emphasizes the importance of having a friend at work and advocating for a healthier work environment.